It was a little over a year ago that we lost our good friend Keith (handi2). I still think about the man at least a few times a week. His decision to leave his parts collection to me was an incredible blessing, for which I'll always be in his debt.
I only got to meet him in person once, but I wish we had gotten to hang out more. He wasn't just brilliant AND generous, he was also a pretty cool dude.
Thanks for posting this Jason,
Keith was always replying to my questions and was the first to share some parts with me, asking for nothing in return.
Keith and I helped each other with parts for many years.
If I needed something, he would just send it out.
If he needed something, I would do likewise.
Dozens of reels and parts over the years —- never a dollar changed hands.
A good friend is never gone, as long as they stay in our thoughts. Many of our good friends have passed on —- but are not forgotten.
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"Now nearly all those I loved and did not understand when I was young are dead, but I still reach out to them.
Of course, now I am too old to be much of a fisherman, and now of course I usually fish the big waters alone, although some friends think I shouldn't. Like many fly fisherman in Western Montana, where the summer days are almost Arctic in length, I often do not start fishing until the cool of the evening. Then in the Arctic half-light of the canyon, all existence fades to a being with my soul and memories and the sounds of the Big Blackfoot River and a four-count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise.
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
I am haunted by waters."
Norman Maclean
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Thanks for posting, Jason.
Best, Fred
Yes a very good man Keith was, he answered lots of questions for many members, unfortunately living on the other side of the world, I never had the pleasure to meet him, Jason thanks for this post, and also distributing some of his part to me, keep well, cheers Don.
Keith was a good guy, all the members of AT.com that have few years here know that already, I just can add that I felt honored when he asked me to build a custom rod for his son who was taking care of him.
Sorry to hear this - I must have missed it when it happened because in June of last year I sent him a PM and didn't get a response, which I know was out of character for him.
God bless handi2 and his family.
Keith is a great guy. I miss him dearly. We would message each other every so often and chat on the phone as well. A breath of fresh air!!!
Keith's legacy will stay alive and well thru the Ohana members. Keith sent me a couple reels, so I sent him a couple. I'll never sell either one, but will someday pass on to another member here to keep his legacy alive and well. I did upgrade the handle on one of his reels, and I'm sure Keith would give it his stamp of approval. I will fish for halibut with it this summer
The day I saw Keith was listing some of his treasures for sale my gut knew what was coming. Very heartbreaking indeed. We all lost a treasure of a guy.
it was a huge loss. :(
A good man who went thru a lot but didn't let it bring him down. Rest in peace
Yes Ted, thats what you call a nice handi reel, looks great, cheers Don.
Keith always in our hearts and minds. Great man, always willing to help out a fellow human. He will always be a great inspiration to all the Ohana!
I have posted this before: Keith saw a 304 post I made,and gifted me 1-complete 304,& one parts 304.I use the complete one daily,Fred gave me a new bail for it,& I polished the handle 8) ,it works flawlessly,& is still catching fish.I got the parts to repair the other 304,also flawless now.I never met Keith in person,but sounds like he was a great man.
Amen! Miss Keith also. He made my Shimano Calcutta 50 gt, 200, and 400 te's sing sweet songs.
RIP pal,
Dom
Yes, he is missed. We honor his memory by keeping the friendly and respectful chatter going on this site, and following the Golden Rule of doing unto others as we would have done to us.
Frank
2 years today. Rest in peace my friend.
I've sometimes amused myself with this idea. The ancient Egyptians believed that in order to sustain an afterlife the living needed to remember you, and continue to speak your name. Now to the best of my understanding Keith was a devoted Christian, so I'm certain it's just coincidence. But by giving me these parts he guaranteed himself an Egyptian afterlife. I still think about the man at least a few times a week, sometimes even saying his name out loud. Often it's "thank you Keith!" Rarely it's even "dang it Keith" and sometimes a "if I were Keith where would I have put the _____"
But I see no reason to think I'll forget the fellow any time soon. And I'm glad. He deserves to be remembered.
hard to believe it's been 2 years.....
Funny how things work. The Navajo traditionalists do not speak the name of a deceased person. Since the Big Guy Upstairs knows our every thought, and since it is very difficult if not impossible to ban a thought from your mind, I suppose the "happy medium" is to think about a person all you want even if you never utter his/her name.
Frank
Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on April 07, 2025, 04:48:31 PMThe ancient Egyptians believed that in order to sustain an afterlife the living needed to remember you, and continue to speak your name. Now to the best of my understanding Keith was a devoted Christian
But I see no reason to think I'll forget the fellow any time soon. And I'm glad. He deserves to be remembered.
Dont go that far to Egypt my friend, you have Mexico at your shoulders ^-^
Dia de los muertos (day of the deads) on Nov 2nd of each year is a BIG event in Mexico, many Govt offices and some private companies gave that day off for the people to visit the cemetery or just to remember their loved ones at home with family and preparing the food and eat what your loved one liked the most, that happen each year, generation to generation so, your loved ones will never be forgotten.
"Our deads are never dead to us, until we have forgotten them"
https://dayofthedead.holiday/
I think I have said it before, but since I have some fishing reels sent by Keith I do remember him everytime I use the reel or even when I handle it, as you said Jason, it was a good move from him to share part of his fishing arsenal to keep his memory alive
I have a Mitchell 304 Keith gave me,I keep it on the dock.I have caught so many fish with that reel.It works like a sewing machine,mounted on a 10ft crappie rod,it never fails.He was a great man & I wished I had the pleasure to meet him in person.
One for Keith. :d
Keith was the first of quite a few here to share his parts and knowledge with me asking nothing in return.
It felt like an invitation to become part of something bigger than just a forum.
Thank you Keith and the Ohana
I met Keith many times when I would Vacation in Florida.
He was a Great Guy. I always visited him at his house in Gulf Breeze. He would have bait for me from the Charter boats that he serviced reels.
My Wife and Son and I would just hang out in his shop and just shoot the breeze.
Like we had known each other our whole lives.
A true Legend Indeed who will not be forgotten.
Rest in Peace my Brother. :-[
I never got to meet Keith in person, only in conversation. I know he had fought many struggles in life which are an inspiration to me! Blessings are truly sometimes hidden without understanding! Thank you Jason for the invitation to remember him and also sharing that he is a Christian man that I will surely meet someday. Many thanks to you Alan for blessing us all with this site
Keith helped me out with a couple Calcutta gt's that I was unable to maintain on my own as the parts were too small for my large fingers. Keith who probably had bigger fingers than me was able to make them sing the sweet sound. He was always willing and wanting to help out a fellow angler. Overcame a ton of obstacles and never complained a bit.
Another solid AT member gone by.
RIP- Miss you brother,
Dom